Nigeria: Soccer field dispute escalates, 20 die

Monday

Feb 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 25, 2013 at 6:27 PM

JALINGO, Nigeria (AP) -- Police in eastern Nigeria say more than 20 people have been killed in violence that erupted after Christian and Muslim youths argued over a soccer field. Taraba state police spokesman Amos Olawoye said today that the attacks this weekend in the town of Wukari damaged more than 50 buildings, including mosques and churches.

JALINGO, Nigeria (AP) -- Police in eastern Nigeria say more than 20 people have been killed in violence that erupted after Christian and Muslim youths argued over a soccer field.

Taraba state police spokesman Amos Olawoye said today that the attacks this weekend in the town of Wukari damaged more than 50 buildings, including mosques and churches.

He says about 100 people have been arrested and that police have stepped up their presence in the area.

While Christians and Muslims largely live in peace in Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people, tensions between the two communities have grown due to a campaign of attacks by Islamic extremists.